Vehicle body



R. L. CARR VEHICLE BODY June 13, 1933.

Filed Sept. 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 13, R L C VEHICEE BODY Filed se t. 25. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 13, 1933 NITE STATES RAYMOND n. calm, or BOSTON, ivrAssAcHUsE'r'rs PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE BODY,

lap neati n fil ed September 2531931. Serial nassaooa.

This invention -relates to improved vehicle bodies, and more particularly to bodies having movable windows or panels arranged in direct juxtaposition to provide awcontinuous 5 Closure wall,'such, for example, as disclosed and claimed in my copending applications Serial No. 183,199, filed A ril 12, 1927, now Patent No. 1,826,865,5t11t1 erial No. 371,162, filed June 12, 1929.

0 In accordance with the present invention, resilient means such as disclosed in theaboveidentified copcnding applications may be employed yieldably tolhold the panel edges together. The panels may slide in engage- 5 ment with each other throughout the path of each panehso that one panelmay engage the edge oftheother even'when thefirst panel is fullyraised and the otherfully' lowered.

. To permit this continuous engagement of the 2 0 panel edges, theadjjoining ends ofthe body wall sections upon which thepanels are carried may beprovided with suitable slots, such as are disclosedinthe above-identified patent andapplication. Preferably one of the body wall sections is a swinging door which is piv: otally connectedto the adj oining section by any suitable hinging arrangement. The resilientmeans siipportingthegpanels tends to tipthe upper end of one panel inwardly toward the other panela greater distance than its lower end; thus, for-example, when the panelsarelseparated from each other, as by doormovement, the upper end of each panel will tip towardthe other panel while its a lower end will move but arelatively slight distance toward the other panel. It is, there fore, [desirable to. provide means positively to assure proper reengagement oi the panel edges. Thepres-ent invention provides improved means ofthis character which is effective substalitially to prevent this tipping action of each'of the panels, so that the resilientelements supporting thepanels are held under. substantially normal stress when thefpanel edges are separated due to door opening. Accordingly, the paneledges may remain substantially parallel to each other as the doorcloses so that their definite res engagement is assured. 7 Furthermore, this means for retaining the resilient elements underfstress is effective in "preventing the panel edges from meeting each other with any undue shook. i 1

. A furtheraspect of the invention relates to improved neutralizing means for protect ing the edges of the panels against excessive stra ns, and to cooperate with the means for holding the panel edges in proper position as the door closes. \Vhen one panel is in its fully raised position and the other panel is lowered, the resilient means is effective in pressing theypanel edges together with at least substantially the same force, as, for example when the fullextent of their edges are in mutual engagement; thus these restrictedoverlappingedge portions are subjected to relatively highstresses, whichar'e unnecessary, and Whichmay result in undue strain 1113011 the panel edges.

The variousfeatures of his invention are particularly advantageous when panels hav ngtransparent edgesare held in direct jux tOPOSItIOII to provide a continuous, transparent closure wall. The means for holdingthc panel-edges in proper parallelism as the door closes is advantageous in. preventing undue shock to thepanel edges while the reaction means also cooperates to this end and also is effective in preventing the subjection of limited portions of the panel edg'es, as;for example the extreme upper edge of a lowered paneland the extreme lower edge of a raised panel to high pressures and objectionable strains. a

In theaccompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sideflelevational view of a vehiclebody wall with a portion of its inner facing removed to show the panel arrangeinent and related portions; 1 Y Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail ,of the lower partof a bodywall section;

Fig. 3 is avertlcahsection somewhatdia grannnatic in character showing the arrange? ment of the reaction means;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the adjoin-1' ing ends of the body wall section showing the panels in theirlowered positions;

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail of a portion of a panel and its supporting meansyparts being broken away andshown in section; and

obi

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the lower portion of a panel, its supporting means and the adjoining portion of the body wall.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates a section of a body wall which may be a swinging door, and numeral 2 indicates an adjoining fixed section. Glosure panels 3 and 4 are carried by the sections 1 and 2, respectively; these pane-ls being independently slidable from concealed positions within the body wall sections to a raised position thereabove, and being retained in engagement throughout their vertical paths. Any suitable lifting mechanisms may be employed to lift and properly position the panels, the numerals 6 indicating rollers engaging the lower channeled frames 7 of the panels and being parts of any suitable lifting mechanism. The panels preferably have ad oining margins unframed and beveled, as shown in Fig. 5. These beveled edges may, if desired, be provided with cellulosic cushioning material, such as is fully illustrated in my above-identified copending applications.

Vertical guides 11 may be disposed at the end of each body wall sect-ion, these guides conveniently being of T cross-sections, as shown in Fig. 4. Guide shoes 12 are slidably mounted upon the guides 11 and preferably comprise two metal elements or blocks 14 and 15, respectively, Fig. 2. The block 14 has a vertical slot engaging the outstanding flange of the guide 11, as shown in Fig. 4, and is provided with a protuberant lower portion to afford a rabbet having an inclined edge designated by numeral 17 the member 15 preferably is provided with a parallel similarly inclined rabbet edge 18, the edges 17 and 18 cooperating with adjoining faces of the metal blocks-in providing a diagonally disposed recess to receive the end of an inclined leaf spring 20. Each leaf spring preferably inclines upwardly from its shoe and isconnected to an end portion of a frame 7 of one of the panels.

I The arrangement of. this connection is shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. The channel frames 7 preferably have clown- Wardly extending protuberances 22, a plurality of cap screws 23 and 23 being arranged in threaded engagement with openings in each protuberance 22. The upper edge of each spring 20 is preferably provided with a slot 24 through which a cap screw 23 may extend. The upper end of the spring is received in a pocket member 25 which may have a continuous outer wall of substantially trapezoidal form, designated by numeral 26, and may have an inner wall parallel thereto, indicated by numeral 27 but spaced from the upper flange 28 which extends inwardly toward the panel from the outer wall 26 of the pocket member. The lower cap screws 23 preferably are in threaded engagement with openings in a continuous, solid portion of member 25 below its recessed or pocket portion. Suitable compressible material 29, such as rubber, is preferably disposed between the end of spring 20, and the walls of the pocket member 25, including the flange 28, which is disposed above the horizontal upper edge of the spring. The arrangement of the cap screws permits the adjustment of the position of the upper end of the spring and its eXact angular relationship to the plane of the panel, so that the normal stress of the spring when the panels are held in engagement may be varied as desired. This adjustment may be effected by removing the cap screws, then locating the spring in the desired position in relation to the panel, temporarily clamping it inthat position, and then replacing the cap screws.

The adjoining ends of the body wall sections 1 and 2 are preferably provided with vertical slots 30, Fig. 3, to permit the panel edges to remain in engagement throughout the path of each panel. As shown in Fig. 6, hollow elements of compressible material, such as rubber, may extend along the upper edge of the vehicle bady wall to engage the body portions of the panels and to aid in holding them in proper position. One of the elements designated by numeral 33 may be somewhat heavier than the other element 34 and may thus be effective in pressing the corresponding panel in the direction of the element 34 and against the other panel.

The hinges 31 for the door (one of which is shown in Fig. 4) preferably are arranged to provide a hinge axis outwardly of the rear section 2 to permit the proper swinging of the door, this arrangement, however, being effective in separating the panel edges when the door opens. Since the resilient elements or springs 20 when properly positioned in relation to the panels will tend to cause them to incline toward each other when the door is opened, it is desirable to provide means to ensure proper engagement of the panel edges and to avoid any undue shock therebetween. For this purpose I provide duplicate or similar means in each of the body wall sections cooperating with a part projecting from the other section.

As shown in Fig. 4, an arm 40 may project from the end of each section into the adjoining section, a suitable opening 41, Fig. 2, being provided for this purpose. An u wardly extending stud 42 is disposed at tile end of each arm 41 and is engageable with a swinging cam element 43. This cam is of the same general type as shown in my copending application Serial No. 371,162, and is provided with an arm 44 which is disposed in the path of the stud 42, so that when the door opens the cam element 43 is swung about its pivot element 45 which connects to a fixed bracket 46 upon the body wall. Each cam 43preferablyhas a second arm 46 extending at anangle to the arm 44 andarticulatedto a link 47 whichin turn is pivotally connected to the lower end of a swinging member 49. This member has a vertical extent slightly greater than thelength of the vertical path of the panel, and may be swung bythe movement of thecorresponding cam43 into engagement with afixed cam 48 carried by the frame 7 of thep'anel. This fixed cam may be of the general type described inmy copending application Serial No. 371,162, having a protuberant portion; past which the member 49 moves into engagementwith a notch 50', thus locking the y springs in stressed oondition as the cam 43 isswung due to the opening of the door.

When the door closes, each of the studs 42engages an arm 46 of a cam: 43 to cause the member 49 to be moved out of engagement with the fixed cam 48, thus permitting the springs to be effective in pressing the corresponding panel against the edge of the adjoining panel. The parts are so proportioned that the springs are held under stress by the locking engagementof members 48 and 49 until the door has closely approached its closed position, so that the panels do not move into contactuntil thedoorhasprac ticallyclosed; Accordingly, the paneledges may besubstantially parallel when they engage each other and undue shock is thus avoided; i I a When oneppanel 'isfully raised and the 3- other panel is fully lowered, but'small portions of the paneledgesare in engagement. On the other hand,the lowered panel is not only being acted upon by the springs 20 connected to its lowerend, but by the resilient element 33 contacting its upper portion. Thus the entire force of the supporting springs and the compressible'element 33 is largely concentrated upon the small portion of the panel edge which is in engagement M5 with the adjoining panel. In order partially to oitset and neutralize this unnecessarily large force acting upon a small portion of i the panel edge, I provide compressible elements GO, such as rollers, carried by brackets 61 disposed within each body wall section at a positionjto engage; the lower edgel of a panel when it is in a position substantially one-half way between its fully raised and its fully lowered position, see Fig. 3. Each compressible element is preferably arrangedto engage the face of the corresponding panel which is opposite the face engaged by the element 33, i. e., each element 60 enga-gesthe same face ofthe correspondingpanel that is :60 engaged by the adjoining panel. Thus, the

element 60 cooperates with the adjoining panel in opposing the force of the element 33=and the springs 20 which are tending to press the panel edges together. The element 60 being compressible permits the passage of the frame? as the panel is being raised or lowered. i

When the panels are fully raised, it is evident that the rollers 60 do not engagethe panels and are ineffective. When one oflthe panels has been lowered, to substantially its mid position, as shown in Fig. 3, its lower part is engaged by the member 60 which tends somewhat to counteract the effect of the supporting springs 20, "the 3 mid portion of: 1 the panel beingacted upon by the compressible element 33 which-tendsto press the panel towardthe adjoining panel. Obviously less forceis neededto holdthepanel edges togetheriwhen they are in their mid positions than when they are fullyraised, since the force applied tothe panels are=received not 60 engaging the mid portion of the panel.

1 Fromthe foregoing it is evident that I have provided means particularly efiective to protect the; adjoining panel edges against undue strain and shock. The elements 60 cooperate with the cammeans 43, 50, etc., in preventing undue shock when the door lowered positions; the rollers, for example, dampening the action of the springs 20 and elements 33 afterthecam 48 has been raised from engagement with the swinging member 49." The reaction means 60is also effective in preventing the concentration of high strains upon limited portions of the panel edges, and is eflective in reducing the total force which otherwise would be effective in holdingthe paneledges together when the panels are in intermediate or lowered positions.

I claim cludinga swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guidingand positioning means associated withsaid panels, said means per mitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are in mutual engagement, or in intermediate positions, said means comprising a part moving with one of the panels and efiective to press it transversely of thebody wall toward the other panel, a resilient element adjoining the top of the body wall and yieldably engaging that panel to aid in pressing it against the other panel, and another resilient element 1. Vehicle body comprising a body Wallinis closed andthe panels at or near their i disposed below the first element and engaging that panel in an intermediate position and reacting against said part and first element.

2. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means permitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are in mutual engagement, or in intermediate positions, said means comprising parts moving with each of the panels and effective to press them transversely of the body Wall toward each other, resilient elements adjoining the top of the body wall and yieldably engaging thepanels to aid in pressing them against each other, and an additional resilient element disposed below one of the first-named elements and engaging one panel in an intermediate position to react against the parts and first-named elements acting on that panel.

3. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including aswinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means per.- mitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are in mutual engagement, or in intermediate positions, said means comprising parts within. the body wall effective to press the panel edges against each other throughout the path of each panel, and means effective partially to neutralize the effect of said p arts when one of the panels is in an intermediate position.

4. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means permitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are in mutual engagement, or in intermediate positions, said means comprising a part moving with one of the panels and efiective to press it transversely of the body wall against the other panel, a resilient element adjoining the top of the body wall and yieldably engaging that panel to aid in pressing it against the other panel, and means efiective when that panel is partially lowered to oppose and partially to neutralize the force with which the part and elementpress the panel against the adjoining panel.

5. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a'swinging door section and an ad joining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means permitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are in mutual engagement, or in intermediate positions, said means comprising a guide in the body wall, a shoe slidably associated with the guide, a spring having an end secured to the shoe, a connection between the opposite end of the spring and the lower part of the panel, said connection including a pocket in which the spring end is received, and cushioning material between the spring end and wall of the pocket.

6. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including: a swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means permitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are in mutual engagement, or in intermediate posi tions, said means comprising a guide in the body wall, a shoe slidably associated with the guide, a spring having an end secured to the shoe, a connection between the opposite end of the spring and the lower part of the panel, said shoe including complementary sections between which the spring end is clamped, said sections being shaped to cooperate in providing a recess enclosing said spring end. 7 v V 7 Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means permitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove where the panels are inmutual engagement, or in intermediate positions, said means comprising resilient means associated with each section and acting upon each of the panels yieldably pressing their edges against each other, and means automatically operable to stress the resilient means associated with each section as the door moves toward its closed position, whereby each panel is moved out of its normal position in relation to the corresponding section.

8. Vehicle body comprising a body wall which includes a swinging door section and an adjoining section, panels carried by said sections respectively, resilient means within the body wall including parts associated with each of said panels and yieldably pressing their edges in overlapping engagement, and automatic means operable tostress the resilient means when the door section is moving toward its closed position to ensure proper meeting of the panel'edges as the door closes, said means comprising elements pro]ect1ng from the end of each of said sections into the other section, and cam elements in the respective sections actuable by the respective elements projecting into the sections.

9. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of independently movable closure panels carried respectively by said sections, guiding and positioning means associated with said panels, said means permitting positioning of the panels in lowered positions Within the body wall, in raised positions thereabove, the panels being in mutual engagement through out their paths, or in intermediate positions, said means holding and being effective to press one panel transversely of the body wall against the other panel,

and neutralizing means effective to prevent the panel edges from being sub ected to high pressure when one panel is near its raised position and the other panel is near its lowered position.

Si 'ned b me at Boston Massachusetts this 23d day of September, 1931.

RAYMOND L. CARR. 

